Amicus Curiae Brief

A brief (a document containing a legal argument supporting a desired outcome in a particular case) filed by a third party, or amicus curiae (Latin for friend of the court), who is not directly involved in the litigation but who has an interest in the outcome of the case.

Common Law

Concurring Opinion

A separate opinion prepared by a judge who supports the decision of the majority of the court but who wants to make or clarify a particular point or to voice disapproval of the grounds on which the decision was made.

Dissenting Opinion

Diversity of Citizenship

The condition that exists when the parties to a lawsuit are citizens of different states, or when the parties are citizens of a U.S. state and citizens or the government of a foreign country. Diversity of citizenship can provide a basis for federal jurisdiction.

unemployment

Universal Health Insurance

Any of several possible programs to provide health insurance to everyone in the country. The central government does not necessarily provide the insurance itself, but may subsidize the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies.

Isolationist Foreign Policy

Monroe Doctrine

A policy statement made by President James Monroe in 1823, which set out three principles: (1) European nations should not establish new colonies in the Western Hemisphere, (2) European nations should not intervene in the affairs of independent nations of the Western Hemisphere, and (3) the United States would not interfere in the affairs of European nations.

Negative Constituents

Normal Trade Relations (NTR) Status

A status granted through an international treaty by which each member nation must treat other members at least as well as it treats the country that receives its most favorable treatment. This status was formerly known as most-favored-nation status. Example: China has permanent status

change of venue

civil law

The law regulating conduct between private persons over noncriminal matters. Under civil law, the government provides the forum for the settlement of disputes between private parties in such matters as contracts, domestic relations, and business relations.

county courts-at-law

In Texas, county courts in addition to the constitutional county court. They are established by the legislature in all but the smallest Texas counties and may have criminal or civil jurisdiction. They form a level of courts superior to justice of the peace and municipal courts but inferior to district courts. County Judge In Texas, an official elected countywide to preside over the commissioners court and to try certain minor cases.

docket

due process

Established rules and principles for the administration of justice designed to safeguard the rights of the individual. The right to due process of law is provided by the U.S. Constitution and most state constitutions.

examining trial

A relatively uncommon procedure that may be requested by felony defendants in Texas. In an examining trial, a justice of the peace reviews the facts and decides whether the case should go to criminal court.

FBI index crimes

A set of crimes reported by the FBI and commonly used as a way of measuring the overall crime rate. The index crimes are murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

tort reform

victimless crime

A crime in which there does not appear to be a victim; a consensual crime. (Alternatively, the person breaking the law may be considered the primary victim.) Examples often cited include prostitution, gambling, and illegal drug possession.

The incorporation theory

The answers given by respondents to poll questions are influenced by all of the following

the possible range of answers to the questions presented.
a yes/no format that restricts the respondents' choices.
the order in which questions are asked.
poorly designed questions that tip respondents in a particular direction.

All of the following are techniques used by interest groups to involve the general public

getting people to boycott a business .
attempting to mobilize large numbers of constituents to write, phone, or send emails to their legislators
using demonstrations, rallies and marches.
commissioning polls and publicizing the results for the public to see.

A previous court decision which influences and is the basis for deciding later, similar cases is called

What are four problems with health care in the United States?

In 2008, more than 45 million Americans did not have health insurance.
Those uninsured pay higher fees than those covered by health insurance.
Average insurance benefits in 2009 cost more than $20,000 per year for each employee covered by employer health insurance.
For people with pre-existing conditions it has been nearly impossible to obtain health insurance at any price.

What are true of the attacks of 9/11?

What are true statements of the Second Gulf War?

Coalition forces put an immediate halt to looting and disorder in the country
The war began when the United States invaded Iraq in 2003
Establishing order and creating a new government in Iraq turned out to be extraordinarily difficult for the United States
President Bush decided to take unilateral action against Iraq

What is true in regard to Afghanistan?

What are true statements of China and the United States?

there are large and growing trade ties between the US and China
China exports substantially more goods and services to the United States than it imports
instead of goods and services China has imported US bonds
Since 1972, American policy has hoped to gradually engage the Chinese in diplomatic and economic relationships to move China in a pro-Western direction

One of the major outcomes of the Vietnam War was

True statements about the war in Vietnam

the war provoked extremely heated debate within the US society
at the height of the war Americans forces were about 500,000
a large scale American troop commitment began under President Lyndon B Johnson
the war ended in 1975 with a North Vietnamese victory

In 2003, President George W Bush enunciated a new foreign policy doctrine, the Bush Doctrine, which held, in part, that

When President George W Bush was willing to work with India and Pakistan, both of which had been sharply criticized by the United States in recent years, in order to gain their cooperation in the war in Afghanistan, he drew on tradition

Department of Defense

All of the following are true of domestic policy

redistributive policy transfers income from certain individuals or groups to others.
Social Security is an example of domestic policy.
Regulatory policy seeks to define what is and is not legal.
Domestic policy ranges from speed limits on interstate highways, how best to protect our environment, to what should be done about unemployment.

True statements about crime and prisons

Many Americans believe that the best solution to the nation's crime problem is to impose stiff prison sentences on offenders.
The United States has more of people in jail or prison than any other country in the world.
More than one male out of every 100 is in jail or prison in the United States.
The number of incarcerated persons has grown rapidly in recent years.